220 Article Suggestions
Bopomofo
Posts: 980
in General Chat
Right then, team. We've touched on this in a few threads, and there are some good ones running at the moment. Anybody up for some article suggestions? If we can get a few together then I'll send a note to the editor pointing the thread out.
Just for starters, from recent topics and my own thoughts:
A bike test: same price (-ish), similar components, carbon versus ally. Tell us what stiffness and lightness really means on a bike, and what IS the difference in materials, or is it down to bum-on-seat and see how she feels?
How low can you go?: get somebody in a windtunnel or on a strain gauge and see what aero bars really do. This would be fun.
Hayfever, asthma and other similar issues. How to train and drug your way around them? Get some consultants involved.
Practical test on what compression clothing actually does. Some research would be nice, get some sports doctors involved.
Long termers: Just like a car magazine... give a bunch of the staff, or even a bunch of the readers/forumites something to test: training program, wetsuit, bike (Felt B2 pro, please), aero bottles, shoes, goggles... whatever! Reports on day-to-day use, good points, niggles, how it affects performance etc
Bike Maintenance: yes, I know they have done this in the past (how to fit some tri-bars) but it has always been really half-hearted. I mean, they've had cutting your stem - be careful if it is carbon! - as a single step IIRC. Perhaps a bit more detail on the sorts of things we all face: adjusting gears, changing cogs and chains, greasing your bearings, stopping that bloody squeak from somewhere near your feet. Or is the wheels?
TRAINING PROGRAMS!!!! This should be the bread and butter of this type of magazine. Where is the event specific advice? Sheesh. I read the comment a few months ago referring to an Olympic training schedule... "By the time you read this, it should be on the web site". WHERE?
I'd love them to devote half a dozen pages at the back to Sprint, Oly and Iron training schedules for THAT month, assuming you are competing in month X. Adjust as required. Your cut-out-and-keep training schedule over the whole year etc.
Blimey. I should be in charge.
Come on.... ideas?
Just for starters, from recent topics and my own thoughts:
A bike test: same price (-ish), similar components, carbon versus ally. Tell us what stiffness and lightness really means on a bike, and what IS the difference in materials, or is it down to bum-on-seat and see how she feels?
How low can you go?: get somebody in a windtunnel or on a strain gauge and see what aero bars really do. This would be fun.
Hayfever, asthma and other similar issues. How to train and drug your way around them? Get some consultants involved.
Practical test on what compression clothing actually does. Some research would be nice, get some sports doctors involved.
Long termers: Just like a car magazine... give a bunch of the staff, or even a bunch of the readers/forumites something to test: training program, wetsuit, bike (Felt B2 pro, please), aero bottles, shoes, goggles... whatever! Reports on day-to-day use, good points, niggles, how it affects performance etc
Bike Maintenance: yes, I know they have done this in the past (how to fit some tri-bars) but it has always been really half-hearted. I mean, they've had cutting your stem - be careful if it is carbon! - as a single step IIRC. Perhaps a bit more detail on the sorts of things we all face: adjusting gears, changing cogs and chains, greasing your bearings, stopping that bloody squeak from somewhere near your feet. Or is the wheels?
TRAINING PROGRAMS!!!! This should be the bread and butter of this type of magazine. Where is the event specific advice? Sheesh. I read the comment a few months ago referring to an Olympic training schedule... "By the time you read this, it should be on the web site". WHERE?
I'd love them to devote half a dozen pages at the back to Sprint, Oly and Iron training schedules for THAT month, assuming you are competing in month X. Adjust as required. Your cut-out-and-keep training schedule over the whole year etc.
Blimey. I should be in charge.
Come on.... ideas?
0
Comments
I'd like diagrams of swim positions and specific drill sets for achieving better position etc.
I'd be interested in a monthly focus on a different Tri club with what they offer, events run, type of training sessions offered. This would be interesting and might help share good practice as well as raising club profile.
I'm not overly critical of 220 and think it's a good mag but I do think, despite being a relative novice that I'm finding the articles are not telling me much I don't already know.
Comparision of relative speeds of different coloured bikes (to prove red IS faster)
In all seriousness, good thread, we should have more say on what is in the mag, also find it appalling there has been no mention of Helen Tuckers win on the website yet!??
I personally find that although 220 is a good magazine I often get more from Cycling Plus etc. For example - training schedules for time trialling recently.
Would like to see peolpe of reasonable amateur standard followed through a season of races and training with a diary of what they had been doing training wise, rest, eating etc etc. Picking up on good and bad things about whatever they have done and going into detail where necessary.
Definately would like to see some training plans though like you said!!
For me at the moment a good topic would be "how best to treat gravel rash" or "how to stop yourself picking scabs"!!! Thank God I went with the advice of that must now be famous thread and shaved my legs!!!
On the healing topic got hold of some "fast healing" plasters which work on the same principle as Compeed does on blisters (provide the perfect healing environment for wounds) and they are amazing, not cheap but well worth the money... already back on the bike and running and will hopefully be back in the big drink next week and the doc at A+E reckoned at least 2 weeks for bike and run and a month for swimming!! (had a hole to the bone on right elbow that couldn't be stiched cos of lack of skin)
Perhaps a best deal report every couple of months covering what offers are available around the country beit bikes/clothing/training/coaching.
To be honest the mag has tried to reinvent itself a couple of times in the past decade or so,but bring back 'Chop Suey'.
I like the idea of club of the month, where readers can pick up deatils of whats around in their local area.
I don't know about anyone else but all the articles i have ever read on nutrition are based on a notional person who eats at the same time every day and never has to worry about prep time. I work shifts and am out and about away from a kitchen not really knowing when or where my next meal will be. how about some real life practiclearticles for eating.
Bike maitainance what a great idea, more specific advice to do with the niggly things that we all fall foul of and have to fudge our way through, I'm thinking gears and the like.
Here's one that might sound off the wall but what about a "from nothing" training program. Most people i try and recruit simply say i can't swim very well or it's been years since i rode a bike for more than commuting, when i lend them my magazine they usually get put off because all the training programmes assume a better than average base fitness level.
if nothing else, this will get people shouting at me.
sorry but you asked.
ps i really enjoy the mag by the way.
[;)]
One thing I would like to see is some advice on how much of a performance improvement is realistic.
Is a 5% improvement in swimming possible? If so in how long
If my run time is 30sec/mile faster this summer than last is that a good return for my level of training.
I appreciate that all this depends on a huge number of variables but it is one area where I really have no idea what my expectations should be.
220 training days,team 220, bopomofo is captain i will be water boy(40-44 water boy)
My suggestion would be a race preview page with a description of the course, favourites in the elites, suggested tactics for us mere mortals etc. - e.g. Windsor - don't swim in the centre of the river just before the turning buoy (wish someone had told me that one before last weekend), or London, Wimbleball, Brighton, Helvellyn etc....
So that line would be.........
Why don't you switch off your TV and go and do something less boring.
which I think was a tv programme in the late 70's early 80's.
I was thinking more along the lines of
Tv coverage : Non-existant
Most seem to be levelled at the Couch - Sprint, Couch - Oly level, and not really too much for those who are looking to be improving existing levels, and boosting existing performance. Personally, I too have found that Cycling Plus is much better in this respect, and also Runners World, however, it's difficult to use these to the maximum advantage in a Triathlon situation, as each individual programme assumes that you will only be training for the single discipline, and as we all know, it's not really feasible to be putting in 50 miles per week running, while trying to combine that with a full on swimming and cycling programme, and also having a life!!
Flipflopman
I know most protein products contain whey so they are out - but not sure about the high 5 and such like.
I won't be eating the free yoghurt bar this month [:(].
So my suggestion is for an article is a group test of vegan nutritional products (very niche I know!) - or just a test of nutritional products with a one-liner on each stating "suitable for vegans" or not.
Edited for terrible spelling...
But what about the day, the week after?? What are the do's and dont's after sprint-IM tri's??
[image]http://forum.220magazine.com/micons/m3.gif[/image]nutrition: in every issue there are two recipes. To me (maybe this is my fault, maybe these are typical English menus??), these seem great to lok at in a mag, but are not tried or made in real life.
Also including recipes for home-made sports drinks, 'energy bars', pre and post race foods,...., would be great stuff (maybe even an extra issue with only porridge recipes[;)]).
How about a big interview each month with someone in or linked to Triathlon. Obviously you could work your way around the national and international elites, but how about interviewing Tanni Grey-thompson in the run up to her first tri, finding out how she became a multi olympian, the problems she has had in everyday life due to her disability. Or Jenson button, or Alastair Campbell (bit late now but you get the idea) the interview could go beyond just their tri involvement.
I like the Team 220 too, as an extension of hte current 'Trained to Perfection'feature
How about a debate, getting people in to discuss things like drafting, drug use etc
but hey I'm not Italian so I hate pizza! [:)] Hey you can have two pieces, I'll have the two beers. lol